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Tillerson discusses Pyongyang's recent missile test with Japanese, S. Korean counterparts

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke on separate phone calls with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts to discuss North Korea's recent launch of a missile that flew over Japan, it was announced Tuesday.
State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that during the calls Tillerson and the two ministers "agreed the launch was an escalation of North Korean provocations and showcased the dangerous threat posed by North Korea to the United States, Japan, (R.O.K) the Republic of Korea, and countries around the world." The statement added that Tillerson reaffirmed with his counterparts "the strength of our alliances with Japan and the R.O.K., as well as the ironclad commitment of the United States to their defense." Tillerson agreed with the two ministers "to continue close coordination on efforts to increase pressure on North Korea to show the regime that its repeated violations of UN Security Council resolutions will only result in condemnation and isolation from the international community," the statement concluded. (end) si.gta